Live simply so that others can simply live.
- Mahatma Gandhi.
Air pollution in India causes 527700 deaths every year.
21% of communicable diseases in India are related through polluted water. In India diarrhea alone causes more than 1600 deaths daily (WHO)
Only 22% of waste water generated in Urban India is treated, severely polluting rivers. The total waste water from delhi and nearby areas are flowing into the 19 drains that connect to the Yammuna is around 3296 million litres a day, of which 630MLD is untreated.
India is getting about 5% less sunlight than it did 20 years ago. This is because a cloud of tiny airborne particles released by its industries hovers above the subcontinent, preventing light from reaching the Earth. Reasults: Less rainfall, redused agricultural productivity, and green cover.
Unregulated dumping of PCs and batteries is contaminating our soil, air and ground water with highly toxic carcinogenic chemicals. With over 2 million old PCs ready for disposal in India, that means 14,42700 kgs of plastics, 3962700 kgs og lead and 1386 kgs of mercury.
Large metros generate thousands of tones of solid waste everyday, Much of this is not biodegradeable. Delhi genetares about 4000 tonnes of solid waste everyday. How long before there is no space to dump it?
Fast depleating forest covers is threatening our fauna with extinction as their habits vanish. In the 20 years alone, nearly 12000 sqre km of forest has disappeared with the government’s permission.
Pollution costs India about 4.5 % of its GDP every year. The figure for China is estimated at 2.6% of the country’s GDP, and less than 1-2% for Industrial Nations.
What can we do as individuals?
Deconsume: It means you pare down. Eco-consciously examine our needs and indulgences, see what can be deleted from the shopping list. For example if your modest sized apartment complex decides to deconsume aerated drinks for a week, it still leaves that much ground water (manufacturing), plastic (packaging) and fuel in transpost.
Small choises go a long way:
We have to choose bucket bath than a shower bath before we run out of water completely!!
Install low flush toilets
Care to turn the tap off while brushing your teeth at the wash basin.
Household waste water can be used to water plants
Use washing machines when the machine is fully loaded with choths.
Switch to CFL bulbs
Make sure that your appliances are energy efficient, swith off unnecessary lights and cut down on the air-conditioner.
STOP using plastic bags. When you go shopping, carry your own reuseable bag.
Segregate your garbage, with recycleable and non recycleable.
Control the environmentally harmful substances used around the house – banish Styrofoam products, lead – based paints, and aerosol cans. Use bay leaves, cucumber slices, garlic to keep away cockroaches instead of toxic chemical sprays, natural pesticides and fertilizers like neem and leaf compost on your plants.
Watch what you eat:
Is the earth – price reflected on the price tag?
Go for a 100mile diet, which means eat that is grown within the 100 miles around your home. Ask yourself, do u really need the kiwis and the chineese and the Australian apples, imported from half way around the globe, burning up thousands of litres of fuel.
Watch your footprint: how you travel determines your carbon foot print. Think can I use public transport, or walk, or cycle, can I buy a dual fuel carcan I persuade companies to think hybrid cars, can I car pool, can I seat at least two others going in my direction?
Eco-map your house: use solar water heating
If you are living in a residential complex that it is economically viable to install a solar panels. Solar cooker maker delicious food. Harvest the roof water, recycle the toilet water to the garden.
Every time you spend a Rupee, you vote for against the environment.